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Why Catholic? Meet Bishop Edward C. Malesic
About Our Bishops Bishop Malesic Biography

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Biography of Bishop Malesic

On September, 14, 2020 Bishop Edward C. Malesic, JCL, was installed as the 12th bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Cleveland. 

Prior to his arrival in Cleveland, He was appointed in 2015 by Pope Francis to be the fifth bishop of Greensburg on April 24, 2015. Bishop Malesic was ordained and installed as bishop of Greensburg on July 13 at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

In the months following his installation as the Bishop of Cleveland, Bishop Malesic worked to guide the diocese through the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring access to parishes and the sacraments while putting guidelines into place to maintain the health and safety of parish and school communities.  As the pandemic waned, Bishop Malesic has increased his parish visitation schedule to become well acquainted with the clergy and faithful of parishes across the eighth counties of the diocese. 

Bishop Malesic also has taken the time to visit and tour many Catholic organizations including Catholic Charities facilities, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Vincent Charity Health System, religious communities and others.

In addition, Bishop Malesic is building upon the efforts of his predecessor in stressing the development strategic plan to strengthen Catholic elementary education in the diocese.  The Keeping the Faith Initiative pulls together groups of experts from several fields to explore and recommend models to ensure that Catholic education is available and affordable across the diocese for many years to come.

Bishop Malesic is also leading an effort to raise capital funds to renovate living and other spaces at both Borromeo and St. Mary Seminary in the diocese.  The multi-million dollar campaign will greatly improve the major mechanical systems within the buildings at the Center for Pastoral Leadership while also providing funding for tuition assistance for seminarians and help with the costs associated with retired priests.

He recently established the new position of Vicar for Evangelization.  The Vicar for Evangelization will help coordinate the talents of the Office of Communications and the Secretariat for Parish Life and Development to further the mission of the Church to proclaim the Good News in the most effective ways possible.

Bishop Malesic is active in sharing the Gospel through his weekly homily reflections on the diocesan website, dioceseofcleveland.org and through this regular column in Northeast Ohio Catholic Magazine.  Bishop Malesic posts regularly on Facebook and on the diocesan Twitter page. His activities and messages can be followed on the diocesan news feed at dioceseofcleveland.org/news.

Bishop Malesic was born on August 14, 1960 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Bishop Malesic is a 1978 graduate of Central Dauphin East High School, Harrisburg, and attended Lebanon Valley College in Annville as a biology major for three years prior to entering the seminary. 

In 1981 he was accepted into the seminary program at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy in 1983.  He continued his theological studies at the Josephinum and was awarded a master of divinity degree in 1987.

Bishop William H. Keeler, then the bishop of Harrisburg, ordained him to the diaconate on May 24, 1986, and to the priesthood on May 30, 1987, at St. Patrick Cathedral in Harrisburg.

In 1996, Bishop Nicholas C. Dattilo sent him to study canon law at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.  Bishop Malesic received his licentiate in canon law in 1998 and served the Diocese of Harrisburg’s Tribunal in various capacities, including auditor, adjutant judicial vicar and secretary for canonical services. He was appointed judicial vicar in 2006, a position he held when he was named bishop of Greensburg. He is a member of the Canon Law Society of America.

He is a member of two USCCB committees: the Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance and the Subcommittee for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe.

As Bishop of Greensburg, he reorganized the diocesan offices, issued a pastoral letter on the opioid crisis, established and Safe Environment Advisory Council, announced a Compensation Program for the survivors of clergy sexual abuse, and promoted programs that would make the choice for Catholic Schools more affordable.

 

 

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